Bob Jenkins (American football)

Jenkins lettered in football at the University of Alabama under coach Frank Thomas in 1942.^[4] In 1943 he moved on to United States Naval Academy where he lettered in football during the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons.^[5] In 1944, as a 6-foot 1-inch, 195-pound halfback, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, having received first-team honors from several publications and organizations including the United Press and Collier's Weekly (Grantland Rice).^[6] The three other members of the 1944 consensus All-American backfield were Les Horvath, Doc Blanchard, and Glen Davis, who all won the Heisman Trophy in 1944, 1945, and 1946 respectively.^[6][7] While at Navy the media heaped colorful praise of his playing ability by writing he was a “human dynamo,” “190 lbs fluid force,” and “the piston-legged personification of power.”^[8] A knee injury in 1945 ended his football playing career.^[1] Jenkins was selected as the sixth pick in the 17th round (170th overall) by the Washington Redskins in the 1945 National Football League draft.^[9]

Jenkins stayed in the Navy until he retired in 1950. He moved to Birmingham, Alabama where he was a businessman and civic leader.^[1] In 1959, he founded machine tools business Birmingham called Modern Machinery Associates, Inc.^[2] He died on November 23, 2001.^[1][2]